Team play poker

ABSTRACT

Tournament poker play proceeds on a team basis according to a modified set of rules. A tournament poker play table is configured for head-to-head competition between at least two teams. The poker play table includes a plurality of transparent windows enabling the video capture system to view hole cards held by the teams. A video capture system is used for the selection and arrangement of video images that are broadcast to a viewing audience.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/789,761, titled TEAM PLAY POKER, and filed on Apr. 6, 2006,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure pertains to the field of games, and moreparticularly card games such as poker and the like. More specifically,the rules of the game are enhanced to permit teams to compete againstone another in a tournament, and to provide a system to enhance thepresentation of the tournament for the enjoyment of a viewing audience.

BACKGROUND

In the past few years, the game of poker has attracted a widespreadfollowing that extends largely to tournament play before a televisionaudience. Video systems may be used to enhance the viewer presentation,for example, by presenting images of ‘hole’ cards that are dealt to anindividual player but are not available to other players as the playproceeds. Thus, the audience is able to see who is bluffing and tospeculate as to what cards a particular player hopes to receive witheach new draw. The well-known game of Texas Hold 'Em is one such game inwhich each player is dealt hole cards that are not revealed to otherplayers, while the dealer reveals community cards that are available forcommon use by all players to assemble a winning hand. Other card gamesthat may lend themselves to tournament play include for example, amongother well-known poker games, five card draw, five card stud, and sevencard stud.

Although card games like poker essentially pertain to a calculation ofodds, a measure of success may be achieved by players who credibly bluffby betting on poor or unwinable hands. Audiences particularly enjoyviewing this type of action where, for example, they can speculate howthey would play a particular hand, or witness a player who has anotherwise winning hand fold the cards simply for lack of willingness tocontest the bluff.

A wide variety of poker games are known in the art. In just one example,the conventional rules of Texas Hold 'Em Poker games provide that twoplayers to the left of the dealer put a predetermined amount of moneyinto the pot before any cards are dealt. This ante assures that there isinterest in playing each and every hand.

This process is commonly called ‘posting the blinds.’ Most often, the‘first blind,’ i.e., the player to the immediate left of the dealer,puts up half the minimum bet, and the ‘second blind’ puts up the fullminimum bet. Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are knownas the hole cards.’ At this point, betting begins with the player to theleft of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or foldwhen it is their turn to bet. This first round of betting ceases whenthose players who have not folded have contributed equally to the pot asa result of the first round bets.

The next round of betting is preceded by ‘the flop.’ After the firstbetting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This iscalled burning the card and is done to help prevent cheating (forexample to insure that no player accidentally saw the top card). Thedealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cardsare called the ‘flop.’ Eventually, a total of five community cards willbe placed face up on the table. Players may use any combination of thecommunity cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possiblefive-card poker hand. At this stage, however, only three such cards areavailable. After the flop, another round of betting takes place,beginning with the player to the left of the dealer who is sometimesalso called the button. During this and all future rounds of betting,players may check, call, raise, or fold when it is their turn to bet.Betting proceeds as with the first round, except that once a player hasfolded he or she may not reenter the play process until after the pothas been collected and a new round begins.

Upon completion of this second round of betting, the dealer burnsanother card and plays one more card face up onto the table. This, thefourth community card, is alternatively called the ‘turn’ or ‘FourthStreet’. Following the turn, the player to the left of the dealer beginsthe third round of betting. This proceeds as before with the options tocheck, call, raise or fold.

With completion of the third round of betting, the dealer burns anothercard before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card iscalled the ‘river’ or ‘Fifth Street’. Final betting occurs on the basisof each player using any combination of seven cards. These cards includethe five community cards that the dealer has turned face-up and the twohole cards known only to an individual player. Each player selects fromthe seven available cards to provide the best possible five-card pokerhand. As is well-known, poker hands have the following hierarchy indescending order of preference:

-   -   1. Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten—of the same suit.    -   2. Straight Flush: Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King (best straight        flush) though to Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five (worst straight        flush)—of the same suit.    -   3. Four of a kind: i.e., any four matching cards such as four        Aces.    -   4. Full House: two of a kind and three of a kind in the same        hand, for example—Queen, Queen, Ace, Ace, Ace.    -   5. Flush: Any five cards of the same suit.    -   6. Straight: Any five connecting cards, for example—Four, Five,        Six, Seven, Eight.    -   7. Three of a kind: i.e., any three matching cards such as three        Kings.    -   8. Two pairs: for example—Ace, Ace, King, King.    -   9. One pair: i.e., any two matching cards.    -   10. High card: i.e., the highest card in your hand.

A tie at any level is resolved by the highest hand at that level, forexample, where a pair of Sevens beats a pair of Fives. It is possiblefor the winning hands to tie, such as where two players may each producea pair of Eights. This sort of tie is resolved by reference to the nexthighest card in the player's hand. If the tie is absolute, the twowinners may split the pot or cut cards to determine the winner of aparticular pot.

With the river, the fourth and final round of betting starts. The playerto the left of the dealer commences betting. This betting processproceeds as before, and the winner is selected as the remaining playerwith the best hand at the conclusion of betting. After the final bettinground, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. Byconvention, either the player who made the initial bet or the player whomade the last raise shows their hand first. The player with the besthand wins.

Heretofore, poker has been viewed as an individual sport or game.Players are particularly noted for their individual styles and habitswhen bluffing or when they have a winning hand. For this reason it iscommon for many players to hide their emotions by engaging in routinepatterns, and to wear sunglasses in order to avoid perceptions thatother players may be able to make by looking into one's eyes.

SUMMARY

In general terms, this patent is directed to a system and methodinvolving team play poker, such as for a poker tournament. In onepossible configuration, and by non-limiting example, the system includesa specially configured table and electronics to aid in tournament play.In another possible configuration, video broadcast electronics are usedto broadcast the tournament game to an audience. In another possibleconfiguration, special rules are provided for tournament play.

One aspect is a system for the play of a tournament poker comprising aseating arrangement that provides for face-offs between individualplayers among respective teams; a system of rules that permitdiscernment of a team victory on the basis of the individual face-offs;and a video capture system that permits a viewing audience to ascertainhole cards at issue among the individual face-offs.

Another aspect is a system for team poker play, the system comprising atable having a surface and a plurality of seat locations; a plurality oftransparent windows located in a surface of the table, wherein eachtransparent window is located adjacent one of the seat locations; andwherein the table is configured for head-to-head competition between atleast two teams.

Yet another aspect is a system for team poker play comprising a tablehaving a surface and a plurality of seat locations; a plurality oftransparent windows located in a surface of the table, wherein eachtransparent window is located adjacent one of the seat locations; andwherein the table is configured for head-to-head competition between atleast two teams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example arrangement for team tournament play of poker.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example system for electronicenhancement of video presentation of team tournament poker play to aviewing audience.

FIG. 3 is another example arrangement for team tournament play poker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There will now be shown and described a seating arrangement for teamtournament play of poker. FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exampleseating arrangement 100.

In the illustrated example, four teams are seated. In the example, thefour teams include UCLA 102, Michigan 104, USC 106 and Ohio State 108,each having three players. In another embodiment, more or less than fourteams may participate in the tournament play. For purposes of thisillustration, the names of various colleges have been selected, but theteams could be organized by other such affiliations as city, state,country, company, or any other group or geographical affiliation. Eachseating position, such as positions 110, 112, 114 for Michigan, isoccupied by an individual who is a member of that team. In otherembodiments, each team may be composed of two or more players located attwo or more seating positions. In another embodiment, one or more teamsmay have one or more players.

In addition, some embodiments include additional seating for teammembers on the “bench,” such as bench 115 for team Michigan or bench 133for team Ohio State. In one embodiment, the players are seated on thebench from each team while they await their chance to participate intournament play. In another embodiment, players on the bench are allowedto collaborate with other team players.

In a possible embodiment, each player is provided with a transparentglass window, such as windows 116, 118, 120, which are respectivelyallocated to positions 110, 112, and 114. These windows are for playersto place cards in a face-down position. In some embodiments, videocameras, such as 117, 119, and 121, are located below each glass windowsuch that when cards are placed face-down on one of the windows, such as116, 118, or 120, the respective video camera will receive and transmitvideo images of the cards. This type of video capture system is used tofeed live video images to a control room where such images may beselected for display to a viewing audience. Broadcast may be delayed soas not to broadcast the game in a timely way such that players may beable to derive useful information from the broadcast of these images.Systems for the video capture of these images are already in widespreaduse for tournament poker.

In the illustrated embodiment, seating arrangement 100 differs fromconventional seating arrangements in common use for tournament pokerplay. Where conventional tournament play occurs on a round table, tables122 and 124 have an elongate ovaloid shape that allow individualface-offs between members of the respective teams. In this manner,position 110 faces off against position 126, position 112 againstposition 128, and position 130 against position 130. Dealer 132 isallocated to table 122, and dealer 134 to table 124. However, it isrecognized that various other table shapes may also be used. In anotherembodiment, multiple small tables may also be used.

Conventional tournament poker play seats a total of nine individuals ata round table, and play proceeds until a single victor emerges with thecombined stakes at issue. Embodiments according to the presentdisclosure are not so limited. As shown in FIG. 1, any number of playersmay seat themselves at a single table. Although the seating arrangement100 shows a 3×3 seating at each of Tables 122, 124, seating mayalternatively be 1×1 ,2×2, 4×4, 5×5 and so on. Other possibleembodiments have teams composed of unequal numbers of players. In oneembodiment, each player has a dealer 132 and 134. In other possibleembodiments, any number of dealers 132, 134 may be present to attendindividual matches, or dealing may be done by an automated dealer.

It is noted that table 124 is preferably arranged and configuredsimilarly to table 122. Accordingly, the details of table 122 are notdescribed in detail herein. In addition, additional tables may also beused in tournament play to accommodate additional teams in thetournament.

In one embodiment, play proceeds as individual matches. A player atposition 110 proceeds in an individual match-up against a player atposition 126. Position 112 proceeds against position 128, and position114 proceeds against position 130. These individual match-ups proceedaccording to the conventional rules of poker. The extent of play mayproceed for a specified time limit or until one player has exhausted theother of all available stakes. At the conclusion of play, the team withthe most points wins over the opposing team, such as where the combinedstakes of Michigan 104 may exceed the combined stakes of Ohio State 108,or vice-versa. Generally, in the seating arrangement shown in FIG. 1,any team to win two of the three individual matches may advance to thenext round. Advancement may be bracketed on a conventional tournamentladder, where preferred teams may be seeded for positioning on thisladder according to their rankings on the basis of past performance.Advancement may also be based on pool play or other known tournamentformats.

In another embodiment, play proceeds in a more conventional way untilone player has eliminated all others at the table, or until one team haseliminated all players from the other team. In yet another embodiment,play may proceed for a specified duration of time, and the winning teamis determined as the one that possesses the most stakes at the end ofthis time.

In one embodiment, the stakes at issue are money. In another embodiment,any other item or thing of value may be at stake. In another possibleembodiment, the stakes include points or chips that are allocated apoint value. The points may be used to purchase scholarships or otheritems of benefit or value for a particular team. In one embodiment, acollege team may acquire points that may be converted into scholarships,charitable donations or facilities improvements by prearrangement withevent sponsors. In a possible embodiment, a team may decide to retirefrom tournament play at any time, so as not to place cumulativelyacquired stakes at risk. In another possible embodiment, a team may begiven new stakes at the commencement of each round, with thecumulatively acquired stakes not being placed at risk.

In a possible embodiment, the teams present at a particular pokertournament are selected from a round robin tournament. In oneembodiment, the round robin tournament is held on college campuses andincludes college teams. Each college holds a tournament, and the winningplayers are selected to represent the team in the final pokertournament. In one embodiment, the number of players selected torepresent the team is in a range from about 3 to about 9 players. Inother embodiments, the teams are composed of non-college students, andmay instead represent a city, company, club, or any other group,location, or organization.

In one embodiment, at the commencement of play each player is providedwith an equal amount of stakes as all other players at the table. Thisequalization guarantees that each team enters each new match-up withanother team on a fair competitive basis with all three players on eachteam taking part at each new tournament level. However, in anotherembodiment one or more teams are given a handicap on the basis of priorperformance at the preceding tournament level. Thus, if a particularteam has won only two out of three matches at the preceding level, forexample, an individual player who lost in the preceding round, or theentire team, may proceed to the next round with only the wining stakesfrom the prior round.

In a possible embodiment, tournament play extends to the quarterfinals,the semifinals, and the finals until one team emerges victorious. Otherpossible embodiments may include a consolation ladder through which ateam that has once lost may regain access to the principal ladder.

In another possible embodiment, each team may designate a team captain.The team captain is a playing participant in team play and is assignedto any one of the seating positions, or is alternatively provided withan additional seat position (best seen in FIG. 3 at 326 and 328). In thecase of team Michigan 104 if the captain plays on of the face offs, forexample, this is suitably one of positions 110, 112, or 114. In oneembodiment, the team captain takes the middle position (e.g., 112). Inone embodiment, the team captain has power to substitute one player onthe team for another. Thus, the team Michigan captain has power tosubstitute a player on the bench for seating in place of another playerat one of positions 110, 112, 114. This may be done to provide a morecompetitive match-up on the basis of the team captain's subjectivepreference.

Alternatively, the team captain does not take part in actual play andparticipates as an observer. In one embodiment where the team captain isnot a player but an observer, visual signaling devices are providedbelow windows 116, 118, 120. In another embodiment, a visual signalingdevice is provided nearby windows 116, 118, or 120, but is shielded fromview by the opposing team members. Examples of visual signaling devicesinclude light emitting diodes (LEDs), a display such as a computermonitor, liquid crystal display, and the like, or any other visualdisplay. The display enables the team captain to discreetly interactwith individual players on the team. In one example of this, a green LEDindicates a recommendation to raise, amber to check, and red to fold.Where such interaction is provided, the team captain may be preventedfrom viewing the hole cards by use of the video imaging system. Inanother possible embodiment, the video imaging system enables the teamcaptain to view the hole cards.

In possible embodiments, the team captain is allowed to make decisionsfor the team regarding who should play in any particular round. Forexample, the team captain may decide to replace one player with anotherwho is better suited to face off against a particular opponent. Inanother example, the team captain may decide to replace himself orsubstitute himself for another player. In one embodiment, the teamcaptain is, for example, a person who finished first in a pokertournament at his or her particular school. In another embodiment, theteam captain is the team coach.

In another possible embodiment, the team captain participates as anobserver at the table or in a separate production booth facility (bestshown in FIG. 3 at 380 and 382). From the production booth, the teamcaptain is provided access, for example, to direct observation orhistorical information regarding the play for each of the team members.In one example of this, statistics or other information may be provided,as captured electronically in the production booth or from priormatches, to facilitate the team captain's decision whether to make asubstitution or call a time-out to discuss strategy.

In one embodiment, each team is allowed a fixed number of time-outs,such as three time-outs for the match. During a time-out, a player mayhuddle away from the table to consult with fellow teammates on anyissue, for example, on how to play his or her cards. In anotherembodiment, the team players can consult with players on the benchduring a time-out.

In some embodiments, these conferences are captured on-camera to providethe viewing audience with an inside view of the personalities andprocesses within a particular team. This enables the audience, forexample, to later assess whether the strategy in place turned out to bethe correct strategy or an unsuccessful one.

Play among the respective face-offs may proceed simultaneously orserially. In the case of simultaneous play, viewer enjoyment may beenhanced by stopping all play whenever a player in a face-off goes‘all-in.’ This is the final step before a player loses the face-offbecause, once the player places all remaining chips on a bet, loss ofthe hand by that player means loss of the face-off.

FIG. 2 shows an example electronic system 200 used to enhance thepresentation of tournament play for a viewing audience. The videoimaging systems 117, 119, 121, 202, 207, 209 are for the imaging of holecards as shown and described in context of FIG. 1. The video imagingsystem feed imaging data generally to a production booth 210, which isset up for television broadcast of such images on a selective basis. Thevideo imaging systems 117, 119, 121, 203, 207, 209 are each allocatedindividual memory space in a video imaging buffer, which may be amagnetic memory. Video selection electronics permit the use of operatorstation 218 to select a combination and arrangement of video imagesthrough the use of video selection electronics 214. One or moretelevision cameras provide camera feed 216, which is also allocated tospace in the video capture buffer 212. This is selected, arranged andcombined through the video selection electronics 214 and operatorstation 21 8 for output through broadcast electronics 220. An audio feed222 may accept commentator voice signals to enhance viewer perceptionand enjoyment of the tournament play.

The operator station may be provided with one or more data inputterminals and video display units (not shown). The data input stationsmay be used to combine video input signals in a mixed format, such as acombined display from camera feed 216 to show the tournament play inprogress, together with picture-in-picture subwindows of the biddinginformation, the hole cards for individual face-offs, and the availablecommunity cards as they progressively develop from the flop, turn andriver stages of dealing. One or more additional data input terminals maybe used to compile statistics regarding the play of individual playersin a team, and this information may be provided to the team captain tofacilitate a decision whether to make a player substitution or to call atime-out for purposes of discussing strategy.

The team captain may in some embodiments reside in the production room,where computer processing may provide statistics as to the play ofindividual team members. A useful statistic may, for example, be thenumber of ‘chokes’ or ‘tilts’ that occur when a player with a superiorhand is bluffed into folding. The team captain may consult a videodisplay unit in the production booth that presents the history of a teammember's play to determine if the team member should be replaced byanother team member or by the team captain. Accordingly, the productionbooth electronics are not limited to telecasting for the audience, butalso may provide the team and for team captain with relevant informationto make decisions regarding the substitution of fellow team members. Forexample, where a player's history indicates that he has consistentlylost while holding superior hands, the team captain may decide toreplace or substitute the poor-playing player with another player. Theelectronics may automatically flag or disqualify a poorly playing playerwho meets a predetermined number of ‘choke’ hands (hands that,statistically, the player should have won),” and by this automated meansautomatically require substitution of a new player.

It will be appreciated that production booth electronics may be quitevaried in their nature. Components for a video mixing system of the typedescribed above may be purchased on commercial order and assembled foruse as described above.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another example embodiment of a seatingarrangement for team play poker. Seating arrangement 300 includes table124 and seats 110, 112, 114, 126, 128, and 130. One team, such as TeamMichigan 104 is seated on one side of table 124, such as at seats 110,112, and 114. Another team, such as Team Ohio State 108 is seated on theother side of table 124, such as at seats 126, 128, and 130.

Various possible embodiments are illustrated in the example of FIG. 3.There is no requirement that any particular embodiment include all ofthe features illustrated.

In one possible embodiment, table 124 is equipped with various equipmentthat assists with game play. Table 124 includes transparent windows 116,118, 120, 202, 204, and 206, each window being associated with arespective seat location. In one embodiment, windows 116, 118, 120, 202,206, and 208 are a transparent sheet of material, such as glass,plastic, or a combination of glass and plastic. Below each of windows116, 118, 120, 202, 204, and 206 are video cameras 117, 119, 121, 202,204, and 206 respectively. As described herein, the video camerascapture video images of cards placed face-down on the respective window.

Another possible embodiment includes a display 302, 304, 306, 308, 310,and 312 located underneath windows 116, 118, 120, 202, 204, and 206respectively. In one embodiment, the display is a computer monitor. Inother possible embodiments, the display is an LED display, a liquidcrystal display, a television monitor, or any device capable ofdisplaying information to a player. In another possible embodiment, thedisplays are located on top of table 124, rather than being locatedbelow a window. Display 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, and 312 displaysinformation to the respective player relating to game play. For example,the display can be used to graphically display the flop, to displayplayer statistics, or for communication between team players. Any otherdesired information may also be displayed on the display.

In the illustrated embodiment, a team captain from each team takes aseat at one end of table 124. For example, the team captain from TeamMichigan 104 is seated at seat 326 and the team captain from Team OhioState 108 is seated at seat 328. Located nearby seats 326 and 328 areteam captain tools. One possible team captain tool is production booth210, as described herein. In one embodiment, production booth 210includes a display that is located below a transparent window located inthe surface of table 124. Input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, orother input devices are used by the team captain to interact withproduction booth 210. In another embodiment, production booth 210includes a display that is located on top of table 124. In anotherembodiment, production booth 210 is located adjacent to table 124.During a time-out, the team may gather in a huddle near the productionbooth to discuss play strategy. In yet another embodiment, productionbooth 210 is located in a separate room from table 124.

Another possible team captain tool is time-out buttons 332 and 334. Inone embodiment, time-out buttons 332 and 334 are large red buttonslocated on top of table 124 and within reach of the team captain seatedat seats 326 or 328. In another embodiment, time-out buttons 332 and 334have a translucent cover, such as a red-tinted cover and an interiorlight that illuminates the button. The team captain presses therespective time-out button 332 or 334 when the team captain wants toinitiate a time-out for the team. In one possible embodiment, time-outbuttons 330 and 332 are electrically coupled to production booth 210 oranother processing device. In another possible embodiment, time-outbuttons 330 and 332 are electrically coupled to lighted rim 332,described herein, to control the activation of lighted rim 332.

In an alternative embodiment the team captain is seated at one ofproduction booth facility 380 and 382. The production room facility maybe a separate room, a cubicle, or other enclosure. Production roomfacilities 380 and 382 may also be elevated to enable the team captainto better view game play. In one embodiment, production room facilities380 and 382 include team captain tools, such as time out buttons 332 and334 and production booths 210.

In some embodiments, table 124 includes lighted rim 332 that extendsaround the outer edge of table 124. Lighted rim 332 includes lights,such as LEDs, that are illuminated when a particular event has occurred.Illuminating lighted rim 332 draws attention to table 124 to alertplayers and the audience that the event has occurred. Lighted rim 332 iselectrically coupled in one embodiment to at least one of productionbooths 210. In another embodiment, lighted rim 332 is electricallycoupled to time-out buttons 330 and 332 or another processing device. Inone embodiment, the lights are beneficial in adding a dramatic effect tothe game. In another embodiment, speakers or other sound generators arealso used to generate sounds when lighted rim 332 is activated.

In some embodiments, table 124 includes automatic shufflers 320. Oneexample of an automated shuffler is the ShufflePro™ automatic shufflersold by VendingData Corporation of Las Vegas, Nev. In the illustratedembodiment, a separate shuffler is provided for each head-to-head match.For example, seats 110 and 126 are paired with a single shuffler. Inanother embodiment, a dealer distributes the cards. For example, thedealer may deal a separate deck of cards to each heads-up match,including a separate flop for each match. In another example, allplayers are dealt cards from the same deck, and play from the same flop.In another embodiment, only a single shuffler is used for the entiretable 124.

In some embodiments, table 124 includes dealer button 322. Dealer button322 is a chip that is passed back and forth between teams at table 124to indicate who makes the first bid. In another embodiment, dealerbutton 322 is a light or LED that illuminates on table 124. In thisembodiment, each team has their own dealer button which is electricallycoupled to production booth 210 or another processing device.

In some embodiments, table 124 includes a set of tilt lights 340, 342,344, 346, 348, and 350 that are each associated with one of seats 110,112, 114, 126, 128, and 130 respectively. In the illustrated example,the set of tilt lights each include five lights or LEDs. An LED isilluminated whenever the associated player tilts on a hand (e.g, when aplayer loses a hand that they statistically should have won). In oneembodiment, a player is taken out of the game if the player tilts fivetimes, such that each tilt light is illuminated. In addition, rim lights332 may be illuminated when a player tilts. Tilt lights are electricallycoupled to production booth 210 or another processing device.

In another embodiment, table 124 is configured for a single head-to-headcompetition, where teams go head-to-head by having all team mates sharea single hand. In this embodiment, team members collaboratively makedecisions as to how to play a particular hand. In this manner of play,each team is assigned a separate production booth, located in a separateroom, where they discuss their strategy. The discussions are video tapedto enable the audience to witness the strategy, enabling the audience toeventually see whether the strategy was successful or unsuccessful.After deliberation, the team members (or a single team representative)rejoin the table at which time one team member makes the appropriateplay. In the case of disagreement, a vote is used to determine the playto make. Alternatively, the team captain has the final say on game play.

An alternative method of play is referred to herein as “Best Hand.” Inone embodiment of Best Hand play, all players are individually dealthole cards. Each team then huddles together to discuss and debate whichhand is the best hand of the team. For example, the team may gatheraround the production booth 380, 382. Alternatively, the team may gathernext to the table to quietly discuss their best option. The teams eachselect a single hand to be the team's “best hand” and then return to thetable. The team player holding the best hand remains in the game, andthe other team players fold their hands. The remaining player from eachteam competes head-to-head with the remaining player of the other team.

An alternative embodiment utilizes video imaging systems, such as 116,118, and 121 and displays, such as 302, 304, and 306 to view the cardsof other team members and to select the best hand to play. For example,video imaging systems record the hole cards of each team member. Thehole cards are then displayed to the other team members on the displaysat the table. In one embodiment, the display is a touch sensitivedisplay. Each player views the hole cards available for the team andplaces a vote for which hand should be designated the “best hand” byselecting the desired hand on the screen. Other input devices may alsobe used, such as a mouse, keyboard, and the like. Should there be adebate over which hand to select, the team has the option of calling atime-out to discuss the decision.

In a preferred embodiment, the best hand is selected by each team priorto the flop, but in alternate embodiments the best hand is selected sometime after the flop. In a possible embodiment, after selection of thebest hand, the other team members retire to the team's production boothwhere they watch the unfolding of the rounds of betting. In thisembodiment, the team member with the best hand plays without input fromthe other team members. Alternative embodiments, however, allow theteams to continue to strategize and debate throughout game play.

A possible benefit of the best hand approach is that it enables theviewing audience to witness the internal dynamics of a team as that teamdiscusses and debates the merits of each hand. In possible embodiments,team decisions are tracked statistically as a record of theirintelligence and/or prescience in choosing each hand. Other informationmay also be tabulated and presented to the viewing audience, such as howoften winning hands were folded in favor of a non-winning hand.

If the team determines during the huddle that none of the teams handsare likely to be a winning hand, an embodiment includes the option of“folding the side.” Folding the side means that the entire team folds.In such an embodiment, however, there may be limits to the number oftimes that the team can fold. In this way, teams are forced to thinkcarefully about the decision of whether to play or whether to fold theside.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the composition of theinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the inventionresides in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. A system for the play of tournament poker comprising: a seatingarrangement that provides for face-offs between individual players amongrespective teams; a system of rules that permit discernment of a teamvictory on the basis of the individual face-offs; and a video capturesystem that permits a viewing audience to ascertain hole cards at issueamong the individual face-offs.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thesystem of rules permit a team captain to make player substitutions. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the system of rules permit teams to callfor a limited number of time-outs.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thevideo capture system comprises electronics for selection and arrangementof captured images in combination with camera feed of the players atplay in the tournament.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprisingmeans for compiling information that characterizes a history of play forindividual players on a team and for presenting the information to ateam captain who has power to substitute players as 20 facilitated bypresentation of the information.
 6. A method for the play of tournamentpoker, the method comprising: seating a plurality of players with a teamassociation for play against a corresponding plurality of other playerswith a different team association to provide for face-off play betweenindividual players among respective teams; proceeding with poker playaccording to the face-offs to ascertain a winner of each face-off;capturing video images that permit a viewing audience to ascertain holecards at issue among the individual face-offs as the poker playproceeds; and discerning a team victory on the basis of the individualface-offs.
 7. The method of claim 6, further including a step ofsubstituting players on the basis of selection by a team captain.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, further including a step of halting the play of pokerwhen a team member calls a time-out.
 9. The method of claim 6, where themethod further includes a step of using electronics to select andarrange captured video images for broadcast to a viewing audience. 10.The method of claim 6, further comprising: compiling information thatcharacterizes a history of play for individual players on a team, andpresenting the information to a team captain who has power to substituteplayers as facilitated by presentation of the information.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising the team captain substituting aplayer after review of the information.
 12. The method of claim 6,wherein the players for each team are selected through a collegiatecompetition.
 13. A system for team poker play, the system comprising: atable having a surface and a plurality of seat locations, wherein thetable is configured for head-to-head competition between at least twoteams; and a plurality of transparent windows located in a surface ofthe table, wherein each transparent window is located adjacent one ofthe seat locations.
 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: avideo capture device located below at least one of the transparentwindows to enable a video to be taken of hole cards held by a player;and a display located below at least one of the transparent windows todisplay information pertaining to game play.
 15. The system of claim 13,further comprising rim lights around an outer edge of the table thatilluminate to indicate the occurrence of an event at the table.
 16. Thesystem of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of sets of tiltlights on the surface of the table, wherein each of the sets of tiltlights are associated with one of the seat locations, the sets of tiltlights configured to illuminate to indicate the number of times that aplayer at the associated seat location has tilted.
 17. The system ofclaim 13, further comprising means for dealing cards at the table. 18.The system of claim 13, further comprising a team captain seatinglocation associated with the table.
 19. The system of claim 18, furthercomprising a time-out button on the surface of the table and associatedwith the team captain seating location, to enable the team captain todeclare a time-out.
 20. The system of claim 18, further comprising aproduction booth at the table and associated with the team captainseating location.